News

Almost $300,000 invested in local nonprofits across Texas Panhandle

AMARILLO, Texas - Fourteen nonprofits in the Texas Panhandle recently received news that they will be able to continue or expand their missions thanks to grants from Consolidated Nuclear Security’s (CNS) Pantex Community Investment Fund, which is administered by the Amarillo Area Foundation.

CNS, which manages the Pantex Plant for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration, announced this week the recipients of charitable funds totaling more than $125,000. Earlier this year, more than $170,000 was given in the first round of employee-directed grants, totaling more than $296,000 for 33 various non-profit organizations for the entire year.

“We are very proud to continue our employees’ legacy of giving through the CNS Community Investment Fund. Pantex has always been committed to improving and supporting our surrounding communities,” said Pantex Site Manager Todd Ailes.

The company announced the fund availability in January as part of its commitment to the Amarillo and surrounding areas. A Pantex Community Investment Advisory Committee comprised of CNS employees reviewed proposals from almost 200 area organizations throughout 2016. After their evaluation, the committee recommended grant awards to CNS management and the Amarillo Area Foundation.

The advisory committee selected grantee organizations based on the following funding preferences and priorities: basic needs, child and family development, community development, education, financial literacy, and health and wellness.

“By working together with the Amarillo Area Foundation, we are confident that these grants and their recipients will have a positive impact in the Panhandle.” said Jason Bohne, CNS Communications and Public Affairs director. “Our goal is to give our employees more of a voice in determining where corporate dollars are invested in the community where they work, live, and volunteer.”

The advisory committee gave priority to proposals from organizations located and operating in the 12 contiguous counties surrounding the Pantex Plant, which includes Armstrong, Carson, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gray, Hall, Hutchinson, Moore, Oldham, Potter, Randall and Swisher. Applications for 2017 will be due in early 2017 through the Amarillo Area Foundation.

Organizations and the funds they will receive are as follows:

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS) operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on the performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

CONTACT
Steve Myers
Public Affairs
Office (806) 573.0490
Stephen.Myers@pantex.doe.gov

Turner Construction, the construction arm of the Administrative Support Complex (ASC) development team, began site mobilization and early construction activities at the 50-acre ASC site. Turner Construction took advantage of the fall weather to mobilize work crews focused on clearing vegetation, installing perimeter fencing, erecting temporary trailers, and surveying for the building foundation and underground utilities. Construction crews are now focused on drilling for foundation piers and fabricating pier rebar cages and concrete pier placements.

Construction crews have begun surveying the land and preparing for construction of Pantex’s Administrative Support Complex.

“It’s been amazing to see the site change every day,” said Chris Howard, CNS’s project manager for the ASC.

“Our Pantex management team is engaged with Lawler-Wood, the ASC development team lead, on a daily basis to ensure the facility will meet our tenant needs for a safe and secure environment to meet the NNSA mission,” said David Will, CNS’s program manager for the ASC.

To address the complexities and importance of the Pantex ASC, a management team is centering resources to ensure the project is successful. ASC construction activities will ramp up in the coming weeks to prepare site utilities while continuing concrete piers, footings, and grade beams to support the building’s large foundation.

Pantex recently had a British invasion, and it wasn’t the Beatles or the Rolling Stones but the United Kingdom Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), participating in the High Explosives Workshop.

The United Kingdom Atomic Weapons Establishment and representatives from Los Alamos National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory participated in the recent High Explosives Workshop hosted at Pantex.

This was the first UK/U.S. workshop hosted at Pantex. Although the two have interacted in the past, it was the first time the countries focused on high explosives. Representatives from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) also attended the workshop.

"We have had interactions with Joint Working Groups with the UK, but these only slightly touched on explosive manufacturing," said Barry Hill, senior manager, High Explosive and Materials Testing. "Some joint working groups focused on manufacturing practices, not so much on explosives."

Past interactions have been on Joint Working Groups, or JOWOGs, covering topics such as energetic science and manufacturing practices, and have been greatly beneficial.

"Besides [JOWOGs] being technically beneficial for both the U.S. and UK high explosives community, it’s highly valuable in maintaining and growing the collaborative relationship between new and experienced scientist and engineers on both sides of this long-standing alliance," said Monty Cates, senior director, Explosive Technology Operations.

With a recently expanded treaty, more information regarding explosive manufacturing can be shared between the two countries. Sharing the W76 program and commissioning similar facilities means both sites are facing many of the same challenges. The workshop allowed for discussions about pressing, machining, additive manufacturing, the growing pains that come along with new facilities, and lessons learned along the way.

"This workshop was a great opportunity to collaborate and share practices to improve in safety process and efficiency," said Eddie Yarker, an AWE principal manufacturing engineer. "It was also a great way to gain a wider knowledge and how it is processed here (in the United States)."
Not only was the workshop a great experience between the U.S. and the UK, it was also a valuable learning opportunity for employees at other sites. New employees at LLNL who were not familiar with high-explosives production and Pantex in general were able to learn about some of the processes.

"We have a lot of new staff who aren’t familiar with Pantex or the other sites; we were able to bring some here and let them get an orientation of Pantex as well as the other sites," said Micha Gresshoff, a LANL engineer.

Gresshoff also said that being able to learn the broader mission and learn how production is performed at Pantex are valuable to their staff and their program.

The fruits of the workshop have been plentiful for the UK Atomic Weapons Establishment, according to Mick Parry, the AWE acting principal production manager of explosives, and the momentum gathered from the workshop has carried over to their site. "We have returned with lots of ideas for future improvements and collaborations between our two sites," Parry said.

Most people wouldn’t know what to do when faced with a person trapped in a car — how to get them out, how to stabilize the vehicle — but the Pantex Fire Department trains annually on how to handle situations just like that. Recently, the department participated in the annual vehicle extrication training event.

Pantex’s rescue team receives training for all scenarios and participates in one of their many yearly training events that focuses on vehicle extrication training, requiring members of the team to stabilize the vehicles and use different methods in order to perform the rescue.

“This is a great chance for the guys to try new ideas. Sometimes they have read about something or heard about a new technique and this is when we encourage them to put it to work,” said Captain Lee Foster, who also oversees the Pantex Fire Department’s Rescue Program.

The group refreshed their skills in the process of removing a vehicle from around a person who has been involved in a motor vehicle incident when conventional means of exit are impossible or would be considered unsafe.

“The Pantex Fire Department responds off plant to a variety of mutual aid emergency situations; car crashes are one of the major emergency responses we encounter,” said Bill Ho‑Gland, Pantex assistant fire chief. “Rescues often require delicate patient care and vehicle stabilization is needed to minimize additional injury to the victim during the extrication process.”

The training was in multiple revolutions, each requiring different set of skills and tools to perform a safe extraction. Not only can the team work on new ideas, but they are also being push to the limits. These scenarios are always made to have the team working in a worst‑case situation.

AMARILLO, Texas – Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC achieved a significant increase in contracting with small businesses during fiscal year 2016, eclipsing its small business contracting goals and awarding more than $276 million at Pantex and Y-12.

The small business dollars awarded represented an increase of more than $36 million over FY 2015 figures, and were 67 percent of all funding awarded, exceeding CNS’ FY 2016 goal of awarding 55 percent of all procurement dollars.

CNS uses small businesses in a range of diverse roles, from staff augmentation services to construction support work.

“Small businesses help form the fabric of a community, and Pantex could not meet its mission without their help,” Pantex Small Business Program Manager Ryan Johnston said.

Y-12 Small Business Program Manager Lisa Copeland added, “They’re not only valuable to the East Tennessee economy—and the national economy—but they’re extremely valuable to Y-12. We’re going to continue to be proactive in recognizing mission-matched capabilities and qualifications of small businesses locally and across our great nation.”

Approximately $99 million worth of goods and services were purchased from small businesses at Pantex, and $177 million was purchased from small businesses at Y-12, which includes first-tier small business subcontracts awarded by the Uranium Processing Facility. Y-12 made awards to more than 770 small business suppliers, and Pantex awarded to more than 625 small business suppliers.

“CNS is committed to ensuring small businesses remain an essential part of completing the Pantex and Y-12 mission,” CNS Supply Chain Manager Skip Skelton said. “Partnering with small businesses ensures we’ll be able to grow and thrive into the future.”

Not only did CNS eclipse its overall goal for small business contracting, it surpassed goals in five socioeconomic categories recognized by the Small Business Administration: woman-owned small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, veteran-owned small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, and Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) businesses.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS) operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on the performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

CONTACT
Allison Roberts
Public Affairs
Office (806) 573.0501
allison.roberts@pantex.doe.gov

NNSA NEWS
U.S. Department of Energy
National Nuclear Security Administration
Production Office News Release

Oak Ridge, Tenn.--More than 230 Pantex and Y-12 employees were recognized at National Nuclear Security Administration Defense Programs Awards of Excellence ceremonies recently held at the respective sites.

Two Pantex teams and six Y-12 teams were recognized by members of site management, as well as Roger Lewis, NNSA Associate Deputy Administrator for Stockpile Management, and Mike Thompson, NNSA Assistant Deputy Administrator for Major Modernization Programs, in Washington, D.C.

“It is an honor for me to present you with these awards,” Lewis said. “The accomplishments you have achieved and the jobs you do every day contribute to our mission of maintaining a safe, secure and effective nuclear deterrent.”

Geoff Beausoleil, NNSA Production Office manager, joined Lewis and Thompson in presenting the awards at Pantex. “I enjoy these ceremonies because I get to celebrate the talent and determination of the people at these sites,” Beausoleil told the crowd.

Teams were recognized for their contributions to several Defense Programs projects, including support for the B61 program, weapon component assembly efforts and packaging of nuclear materials.

Pantex Plant Manager Todd Ailes told the recipients, “Day in and day out, you do the work that keeps this site safe and moving forward, as well as keeping our nation secure. And, you do that work with an unwavering commitment to safety, security and quality. Please accept my thanks and congratulations on a job well done.”

During a ceremony held at Y-12, Mike Thompson said, “I’m impressed by the magnitude of your achievements. I’m also impressed with how you accomplished your work — your complete dedication to problem solving through teamwork, respect, and mutual accountability.”

Established by NNSA in 1982, the Defense Programs Awards of Excellence recognize significant individual and team accomplishments across the nuclear weapons complex in support of NNSA’s nuclear weapons program. The awards are given annually to recognize significant achievements in quality, productivity, cost savings, safety or creativity in support of NNSA’s nuclear weapons program.

The mission of the NNSA Production Office is to ensure the safe, secure and cost-effective operation of the Pantex Plant, Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Y-12 and Pantex are operated by Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC, for NNSA.

Follow NNSA News on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr

Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science in the nation’s national security enterprise. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability, and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; reduces the global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad. Visit http://www.nnsa.energy.gov for more information.

CONTACT
Steven Wyatt
NNSA Production Office
Public Affairs
Office (865) 576-9918

Three subcontractors recognized for contributions to Pantex mission success

AMARILLO, Texas – Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS) recently presented three Small Business Achievement Awards at the West Texas A&M Contract Procurement Center’s Focused and Fearless: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Texas event. CNS recognized A-1 Communications, Inc., Stanek Tool, and Tri-State General Contracting for their commitment to excellence.

“Our ability to partner and collaborate with small business plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve mission success,” said CNS Deputy Enterprise Manager Michelle Reichert during her remarks as the event’s keynote speaker. “During fiscal year 2016, Pantex spent $99.3 million on goods and services from more than 625 small businesses, which is more than 80 percent of total procurements,” added Reichert.

A-1 Communications, a local small business providing leased pagers, has a 16-year working relationship with the Pantex Plant. The woman-owned company is an integral part of the success of Pantex operations and emergency communications.

Wisconsin-based machine shop Stanek Tool has provided special tooling to the Plant since 2007. Anne Marie Wilkerson, the Pantex procurement specialist who nominated the company for the award, said “they go the extra mile to ensure what they deliver to us is high-quality and on time.”

CNS also recognized Tri-State General Contracting, which has provided minor and major construction support to Pantex for 13 years. The company was one of the first subcontractors selected for CNS’ mentor-protégé program.

Pantex Small Business Program Manager Ryan Johnston said, “Small businesses are the backbone to our local and national economy. We are proud to recognize these three businesses for their contributions and commend them for modeling the CNS values—integrity, trust, respect, teamwork and excellence.”

Overall, CNS used small businesses for 67.7 percent of subcontracts at Pantex and the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn., surpassing the company’s goal of 55 percent.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS) operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on the performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

Recently, Pantex and Y-12 were inspected by the Environmental Protection Agency. Y-12’s inspection also included a visit from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Both sites came away with stellar reviews after three day inspections in areas such as hazardous waste management, training and compliance documentation.

Pantex Waste Operations Engineering Technician John McMahan is one of many employees who works daily to ensure CNS meets environmental standards.

“This is a significant accomplishment that does not happen by accident, but instead through hard work, diligence, and a commitment to excellence,” said Teresa Robbins, NNSA Production Office deputy manager.

In addition to inspecting waste storage areas, the inspectors looked at numerous records. These records included hazardous waste manifests, annual hazardous waste activity reports, waste reduction reports, and hazardous waste training and lesson plan content. Despite the volume of records reviewed, inspectors noted only one minor issue.

Inspectors at each site had positive things to say about the various processes and procedures that they had observed. Inspectors noted that the Material Evaluation Process (waste characterization) employed at Pantex far exceeds what is required by regulation and is better than what he encountered at commercial waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. At Y-12, the inspector even asked for a photo of an exceptionally good Y 12 practice to use as a benchmark for others.

“There are hundreds of folks doing the hard work every day and likely wonder if anyone will notice. Each one needs to know that excellence is a choice. And, the string of individual decisions they have made is having a positive impact on this site’s overall reputation,” said Bill Tindal, Y-12 site manager.

“Seeing that there were no violations or concerns identified during this on site inspection only proves that we have a great group of people here that really take pride in their jobs and processes,” said Todd Ailes, Pantex site manager.

There was plenty of smoke and fire, but the Pantex firefighters weren’t responding to a four-alarm fire. They were cooking for the annual Amarillo Chamber of Commerce’s Good Times Celebration Barbeque Cook-Off. The Pantex team went up against 99 cook teams, smoking ribs, brisket and other meats, to see who had the best barbeque in town.

Scott Johnson, Pantex battalion fire chief (left) and Saxon Webster, firefighter/EMT, prepare ribs during the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce’s Good Times Celebration Barbeque Cook-Off. For the past 17 years, Pantex firefighters come together in September to smoke the best meats and enjoy the competition. (Photo courtesy of Michael Schumacher, Amarillo Globe-News)

The Good Times Celebration is in its 21st year, and for the past 17 years, Pantex firefighters come together for a couple of days in September to smoke the best meats and enjoy the competition. This year’s event took place Sept. 7 and 8. For some, it’s the group of co-workers that brings them to the barbeque.

“This is my first time to cook for the Chamber event, but I wanted to because of the guys out here on the cook team,” said Jeremy Baker, Pantex firefighter/paramedic. “I cook with them at the Boots vs. Badges event, and we have a great time each year.”

Not only were the Pantex firefighters serving up their best fixings to the judges, they were serving more than 6,000 people who lined the streets of downtown Amarillo for the event.

“When you watch a person bite into a rib, slice of brisket or a piece chicken and you get the eye roll along with the ‘yum’ sound effect, you feel good knowing what you worked at for hours has paid off,” said Scott Johnson, Pantex battalion fire chief.

Even though the team did not place in this year’s event, they are tweaking their recipes and will be back again next year.

“Amarillo is a unique community that’s always happy to come together for good causes and fellowship – often over great food. I love that so many Pantexans get engaged in this event each year, and a photo of our firefighters even made the front page of the newspaper. I was also happy to get to taste their amazing barbeque creations, as well as serve as a rib judge. As always, we are proud to be a member of this community, and I am very proud of all the Pantexans who took the time to volunteer,” said Michelle Reichert, CNS deputy enterprise manager.

For two women who represented Pantex and Y‑12 at the U.S. Women in Nuclear national conference in July, the organization lives up to its acronym — WIN — by offering win‑win benefits of professional development and networking.

Megan Houchin of Y‑12 and Evalita Perez-Bobb of Pantex participated in the national 2016 conference, “U.S. WIN: Building on the Promise of Nuclear Energy,” held in Charlotte, North Carolina. Houchin, whose job title is Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, is the president of the Oak Ridge WIN chapter. Perez‑Bobb, an electrical engineer who joined Pantex a year ago, is nearly as new as the recently formed Amarillo Pantex WIN Chapter, which is about eight months old.

Y‑12’s Megan Houchin, right, enjoys a Women in Nuclear networking event at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina. With her is Julie Ezold of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

U.S. WIN includes chapters from across the country, comprised of 8,000 women (and men) who work in nuclear and radiation‑related fields. The national organization is affiliated with WIN‑Global, an international organization in 100 countries.

“We do a lot of professional development. We call it womentoring,” Houchin said. “Most people think WIN is for nuclear engineers, but it’s not. It’s for anyone in the nuclear industry — which is everyone at Consolidated Nuclear Security.”

After joining Pantex about a year ago as an electrical engineer, Perez‑Bobb wondered if the organization offered peer networking like she experienced serving in the Navy. She was glad to hear that Pantex employees were establishing a WIN chapter.

Perez‑Bobb attended the conference as a last‑minute substitute and wasn’t sure what to expect. Walking into a panel discussion, she immediately recognized a familiar face and a connection to her naval service. Retired U.S. Navy Admiral Robert Willard, now president and CEO of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, was commanding officer of the USS Abraham Lincoln when she served on the aircraft carrier.

She said it was also amazing to see that two of the four panel speakers were women: Lynn Good, CEO of Duke Energy Corp., and Maria Korsnick, CEO of Nuclear Energy Institute.

“The women there were great, so inspirational. They were presidents, CEOs or top national experts in the nuclear energy field. I was grateful for being given the chance to socialize with so many women nuclear professionals in one place,” Perez-Bobb said.

Houchin had a similar experience as she chatted with a woman seated next to her at the lunch table, the president of one of the Savannah River Site operations.

Closer to home, the chapters meet monthly and often host guest speakers. Recent professional development topics include Facilitation 101 and networking. The chapters also take part in community outreach, such as Introduce a Girl to Engineering, and members speak at schools.